Curtain-pole



J. A. FERG. CURTAIN POLE.

No. 547,341. Patented Oct. 1, 1895.

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JOHN ADAM FERG, OF NORFOLK, VIRGINIA.

CURTAIN-POLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 547,3LL dated October 1, 1895. Application filed January 2, 1895. Serial No. 533,619. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom t may concern.-

Beit known that I, JOHN ADAM FERG, a citizen of the United States, residing at Norfolk, 1n the county of Norfolk and State of Virginia, have invented a new and useful Ourtain-Pole, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that class of curtain-poles wherein the rings are connected to a rope running longitudinally through the pole or along with the pole, and wherein they are arranged to move on the pole as the rope is drawn, thereby shifting the position of the curtain.

The invention is more specifically related to that class in which the rope is doubled and passed through the'pole and has the curtainrings connected to it, so that half Will move toward one end of the pole and half toward the other, thus parting the two sections of the curtain. A

The object of this invention is to improve these devices and to provide means whereby the ropes may be mounted within the pole in a more effectual manner and without the necessity for complicated and costly mechanism.

A further object is to make it possible to completely hide all parts of the mechanism and to give the pole the appearance of being one of ordinary construction. jBy means of my invention it is possible to produce a pole of this class which has no appearance whatever of containing the mechanism referred to other than the terminals of the rope projecting from one end.

These objectsI attain by certain peculiar features of construction, all of which will be fully described hereinafter, and finally embodied in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure l represents an elevation of a pole having my improvements applied and shown in operative relation lto the curtain. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal and vertical section of the pole. Fig. 3 is a cross-section thereof, taken through one of the rings. Fig.

4 is au end elevation, the ornament having been removed. Fig. 5 is a similar elevation ofthe opposite end.

The reference-numeral 1 indicates the polebody or main portion, which is formed of wood by preference, though of course metalor any other material may be used. This pole is formed with a longitudinally extending groove 2, which is related radially to the pole and which extends throughout the length of the same. Located at one end of the pole and directly over the adjacent end of the groove 2 is the plate 3, which has formed integral therewith the outwardly-projecting and duplicate boxes 4, in which the trunnions 5 ot' the pulley 6 are revolubly journaled. The pulley 6 is grooved and is arranged so that the lowest point on its periphery will be aligned with the lower portion of the groove 2. The opposite end of the pole is provided with a plate 7, which is much larger than the plate A3, and which extends vertically and is rigidly secured to the pole, so that its upper portion will surround the adjacent end of the groove 2. This plate is provided with duplex boxes 8, which are duplicates of each other and which furnish bearings for the respective trunnions 9 and 1 0 of the pulleys 11 and 12, respectively. The box which carries the pulley 11 is higher than the pulley l2 and is also projected out, so that its trunnion will be vertically aligned with the outer periphery of the pulley 12. The pulley 11 is arranged so that its upper periphery will be in horizontal alignment with the corresponding portion of the pulley 6, while the `pulley 12 is arranged so that its upper periphery will be aligned with the lower periphery of the pulley 6.

13 indicates the rope, which is wound over the pulley 6 through the length of the groove 2 and with its respective terminals passing over the pulleysll and 12. This rope may be of any kind, and in practice will be ornamented and uished to give it au attractive appearance. The rings of the pole are designated by the numerals 14 and 14-2; The rings 14 are ofthe usual construction and compose all the rings of the pole, except the two in the middle, which are designated by the numeral 14. The rings 14 are each formed of two semicircular sections provided with interlockingears and tongues through which securing pins or rivetspass. The purpose of this construction is to make it possible to attach the rings to the pole without having to slide them over the ends ofthe same, which can only be done by removing the pole from its mountings. Thus byreleasing one of the joints the sections may be ICO `will have to be made removable, as will be understood.

The two middle rings 14 haveformed at the middle of their upper section and at the inner sides thereof a rope-clamp 15, and the clamp on the right-hand half of the pole is long enough to extend down into the lower portion of the groove 2,while the clamp on the left-hand half of the pole projects into the upper portion of the groove. The clamp of the left-hand ring consists merely of two malleable-iron or other pliable irons,which are capable of being bent around the rope and made to pinch the same, while the clamp at the right-hand side is formed of an elongated plate having an opening in its upper portion through which the upper part of the rope 13 passes and having at its lower extremity the pliable arms referred to above, which are made to clamp the lower portion of the rope as said arms of prior mention. Thus it will be seen that means are provided whereby the upper portion of the rope is permitted to pass the clamp which is connected to the lower portion of the rope, it being understood that upon the drawing of either terminal of the rope 13 the two parallel portions Within the groove 2 will move in opposite directions.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that upon drawing one end of the rope 13 the rings will be made to move toward the respective ends of the pole, or toward the center thereof, and that their first position may be recovered by drawing the rope in the opposite direction. Each of the rings 14 and 14a is provided at its lower portion with an. eye 16, to which the curtain 17 is connected, as may be seen in Fig. 1, and as will be understood without any further description.

The ends or terminals of the rope 13 project out from their respective pulleys 11 and 12 and depend therefrom to a point within reach of persons desiring to manipulate the curtain. In order to hide the pulleys at each end ofthe pole, I provide ornamental devices 18, the ornamental portions of which may assume any desired form. Formed integral with or otherwise secured to these ornaments 18 are the bell-shaped caps 19, which are hollow at their interior and which are of a size which will permit them to fit snugly over the ends of the pole, in which position they are secured either by binding them against the pole or by screws or other fastening devices. These caps 19, which indeed form a part of the ornaments 18, securely and completely hide the pulleys at either end of the pole and make it impossible for the presence of the same and the other parts of my invention to be detected by persons standing on the floor beneath them.

The above statement is made with the qualication necessary, owing to the terminals of the rope 13, which project through an opening 2O in the right-hand ornament 18.

This opening is just large enough to permit the ropes to pass out of it, and by reference to the drawings it will be seen that the ropes are so related to it in practical operation.

The method of using my invention will not require any further description, and it only remains for me to say that the parts are as` sembled by first placing the pulleys in their respective positions and passing the rope 13 over them, so as it will assume the position shown in the drawings. The rings 14E are now separated at their sections and the clamps 15 thereof made to clamp with the rope, which may be done by means of a pair of pliers. The rings 14 are now placed with their clamps in the slot 2, so that the ropes will be in the proper` position. Thus it will be understood that the purpose of the hinged sections is to permit the clamps to be fastened to the rope, which could not be done otherwise on account of the'size of the slot 2.

After the connection of the curtain with the -eyes 16 the assemblage of my device will be complete, and it may be operated by drawing upon the rope 13, as will be apparent. In adjusting the pole to the size of the door or window or other device to which it is to be applied it will be understood that the pole is sawed off at the proper length before the pulleys are applied thereto, after which the pulleys are secured in place. Thus in the transportation of my device, and when the same has not yet been applied in practical operation, the parts will be dissembled and the pole stripped of its attachments, which are only applied after the requisite length of the pole has been ascertained. It is perhaps necessary for me to explain that in practice the pole must be held rigid by brackets or their equivalents secured to the building, as is common in such devices. It should be noted,however, that the pole must be held perfectly rigid and with more or less strength, since the drawing of the rope will tend to move it longitudinally and in other directions.

Having described the invention, I claim-- l. A curtain pole consisting of a main or body portion having formed therein a groove extending longitudinally throughout its length and for a distance into the pole commensurate with the center thereof, a pulley mounted on one end of the pole and in alignment with the groove thereof, said pulley being projected out from said end of the pole, boxes secured to the pole and in which the pulley is journaled, an ornament having a bell-shaped cup entirely surrounding and embracing the end of the pole which has the pulley referred to and hiding the same said cup being rigidly secured to said pole, two additional pulleys on the remaining end of the pole, boxes secured to said remaining end of the pole and projecting outwardly therefrom, and in which the pulleys are mounted in vertical alignment, a rope passed over the said three pulleys and running through the groove and having its terminals depending IOC from the end of the pole which has the double pulleys, curtain rings the center two of which are affixed to the upper and lower horizontal portions respectively of the rope and mounted on the pole, and a second ornament having a cup-shaped cap entirely surrounding and embracing the end of the pole which has the double pulleys said cap being rigidly secured to said pole and formed with an `opening through which the terminals of the rope may project, substantially as described.

2. A curtain pole consisting of a main or body portion having formed therein a groove extending longitudinally throughout its length, a pulley mounted at one end of the pole and in alignment with the groove thereof, an ornament having a bell-shapedcup einbracing the end of the pole which has the pulley referred to and hiding the same, two additional pulleys at the remaining end of the pole arranged in vertical alignment, a rope passed over the pulleys and running through the groove and having its terminals depending from the end of the pole which has the double pulleys, two rings, each formed in two halves removably attached together for the purpose of intermediate adjustment around said rod, one of said rings being provided on the under side of its upper half with pliable gripping arms for attachment to the upper portion of said rope and the other of said rings .being similarly provided with a depending plate perforated to receive said upper rope and provided with pliable gripping arms for attachment to the lower portion of said rope and a second ornament having a cup-shaped cap embracing the end of the pole which has the double pulleys and formed with an opening through which the terminals of the rope may project, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aftixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN ADAM FERG.

Witnesses:

ALBERT RINK, ALBERT Koen. 

